Cigarette and cigar extinguisher



A. J. N. CECIL CIGARETTE AND CIGAR EXTINGUISHER Filed A ril 23, 1956 June 25, 1957 2,796,870

7 T j 6 /6 T I 9 2 B 6 T /7 1/ 1 m n /0 {/8 eBay/2X22 5 4+ IN V ENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent "This invention relates to a novel extinguisher of extremely simple construction which may be fliciently employed'for'extinguishing the burning ends of cigars and Cigarettes.

Considerable difiiculty is encountered, especiallylby .operators and passengers of motor vehicles, in. completely extinguishing a. cigar or cigarette before it is "disposedof by beingthrown from a vehicle or by depositing-1t .in an ash tray. The throwing oflli'ghted cigars and cigarettes from .a vehicle is prohibited by law in some jurisdictions arid attempting to completely extinguisha cigaror cigarette in an ash tray is quite diflicult, and frequently the 'cigaror. cigarette continues to smolder andtoften ignites other cigar and cigarette butts within anash tray-causing considerable annoyance, especially when this occurs when .the windows of a vehicle are closed.

Accordingly, it isanaim oflthe.presenLinventiomto ,provide an extinguisher of extremely simple construction which. may be readily mounted ina-motor vehicle 'and which may be effectively employedfor extinguishing the burning ends-of cigars and cigarettes by-merelyinserting such ends into an-open top receptacle portion of the de v1ce.

'Afurther object of'the invention is to provide an extinguishing device which due to its unique construction will readily maintain -..extinguishing fluid therein even though the device is subjected to considerable vibration.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the extinguisher shown in an applied position;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 22 of Figure 1, and

Figures 3 and 4 are enlarged cross sectional views of the extinguisher, taken substantially along the lines 3-3 and 44, respectively, of Figure 2.

The extinguishing device in its entirety is designated generally 6 and includes a resilient support, designated generally 7, a tank 8 and an upwardly opening receptacle 9.

The resilient support 7 includes an end portion 10 which is adapted to be attached to a surface of a substantially vertical supporting member 11, such as a portion of a vehicle instrument panel. Said end portion 10 is illustrated as a suction cup which is attached in a conventional manner to the panel 11. However, other forms of attaching members could be substituted for the suction cup 10. The other end of the resilient support 7 is defined by an elongated socket member 12 which opens in a direction away from said end portion 10. The resilient support also includes a resilient intermediate portion 13 extending between and connecting the end portions 10 and 12.

The resilient intermediate portion 13, as illustrated in Figure 2, preferably constitutes an elongated hollow neck terial and" which may-constitute" an integral projection of the centralportionof the outer side of the suction cup 10. "Theneck1'4.extends through a central opening 15 in the .inn'erlend wall' 16 'ofthe socket 12 andhas an end wall 17 which "maylbemolded or'fotherwise secured to the extremity thereof and which is disposed within the socket 12and is tlargerithantheneck 14 for'engaging the inner 'sidezof the end @1116 around the opening 15. The end wall'1-7 may be secured to the neck 14 by being molded thereto and to the 'inner:side of the wall '16, aftenthe neck 14 is inserted throughthe opening 15. The 'neck "14 is also provided with anexternal' rib18 which is spaced slightly from 'the end wall 17 and which engages the"'outer side of the en'd wall-16 around the opening .Lo fthe springs from becoming embedded in the ends of the neck. The=spring 19 is maintained 'by the disks'20 under "slight compression arid aids in resisting fiexing of the neck 14.

"The taiik'8 is of substantial length relative to its cross sectional size and the crosssectional shape thereof corresponds to the cross sectional shape of the socket12'and is of. su'fiiciently smaller-size so that an end portion of the tank 8, located adjacent 'its'open end 21, can be slidablyinserted into' the socket'1-2 through the outer'open end22fthereof. "The socket 12 and tank 8 are illustrated as being .of circular cross section but could be of any other desired corresponding cross sectional shape. A

.plug or stopper '23 fits detachably into and provides a liquid-tight seal for the tank end 21 and may beformed of any suitable material, such as rubber orcork. An

outer peripheral portion of the stopper 23 and/or the wall of the tanks frictionally engages the socket 12 to retain the tank in engagement with said socket -or.to

permit the tank to .be forcibly pulled out of engagement with the socket. When the aforementionedtanklend is fully inserted into the socket 12 so that the stopper 23 abuts the end wall 17 and the receptacle 9 is in an upright position, a vent opening 24 of the tank 8 will register with a communicating vent opening 25 of the socket 12.

The open top receptacle 9 is preferably cup shaped and formed integral with the top portion of the other outer end 26 of the tank 8. The receptacle 9 comprises a bottom 27 which may be either fiat or slightly dished, and an upstanding surrounding wall 28. At least the central portion of the bottom 27 constitutes a part of the top portion of the tank 8 and is provided with at least one opening or aperture 29 forming a communicating passage between the interior of the tank 8 and the interior of the receptacle or cup 9.

The tank 8 is adapted to be filled with water 30 or other suitable fire extinguishing liquid, nearly to the capacity thereof, as illustrated in Figure 2. The tank 8 is normally maintained by the resilient support 7 with its longitudinal axis substantially horizontal, as seen in Figure 2, so that the liquid level will be disposed slightly below the topmost portion of the tank 8 into which the apertures 24 and 29 open. Thus, no water will normally be contained in the receptacle 9. When it is desired to extinguish a cigar or cigarette, not shown, the burning end thereof is inserted into the receptacle or cup 9 through its open top and pressure is exerted thereby against the bottom 27 to cause the resilient intermediate or neck portion 13 to yield or flex downwardly. A slight flexing of the portion 13 is suflicient to cause the tank 8 to be inclined downwardly and outwardly toward its outer end 26, so that a portion of the liquid 30 will flow through the passage 29 into the cup 9 for extinguishing the burning end of the cigar or cigarette. As this occurs, air will enter the tank 8 through the apertures 25 and 24. When the cigar or cigarette is removed from the cup 9 and a downward pressure thereon no longers exists, the intermediate portion 13 will be spring biased back to its normal horizontal position for returning the tank 8 to a horizontal position as shown in Figure 2, and so that the liquid will drain from the cup 9 through the passage 29 back into the tank 8 and at the same time air will escape through the apertures 24 and 25. The portion 13 is of sutficient strength to maintain the tank 8 when filled with liquid substantially horizontal. It will be obvious that the extinguished cigarette or cigar may be disposed of in an ash tray or otherwise after it has been extinguished, as previously described.

The resilient portion 13 in addition to yieldably sup porting the tank 8 and receptacle 9 for the purpose heretofore described, additionally provides a cushioning means between the supporting element 11 and tank 8 for absorbing vibrations of the part 11 to prevent such vibrations being transmitted to the tank 8 and which might cause the liquid 30 to be splashed therefrom outwardly through the passage 29 or the vent apertures 24 and 25. The resilient portion 13 will also prevent the extinguisher 6 from being knocked out of engagement with the supporting element 11 in the event that it should he accidentally struck.

The tank 8 can be slidably withdrawn from the socket 12 and the plug 23 removed for refilling the tank when necessary. During refilling, the tank end 21 is held in an uppermost position and a finger is placed over the passage 29 to prevent the liquid from escaping therethrough. This can be readily accomplished, Where the extinguisher 6 is used in an automobile, at a gasoline station while the vehicle is being refueled. It will also be apparent that the tank 8 and receptacle 9 may be readily cleansed to remove any collected accumulation of ashes. V

The tank 8 may also be refilled through the passage 29.

Various other modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

. 4 I claim as my invention: 1. In an extinguishing device of the character described comprising an end portion constituting an attaching member adapted to be connected to a substantially upright supporting member, an elongated tank adapted to contain a fire extinguishing liquid including an inner end and an outer end, connecting means forming a connection between said attaching member and the inner end of said tank for supporting the tank with its axis substantially horizontal, an open top receptacle mounted on the outer end of said tank, said receptacle having a passage communicating with the interior of the tank and opening into the bottom of the receptacle, and said connecting means including a resilient portion whereby the tank may be swung downwardly by a downward pressure exerted on the receptacle for causing a part of the liquid therein to pass through said passage into the receptacle and for causing the liquid to return to the tank from the receptacle when the tank is returned to a horizontal position by the resiliency of said part of the connecting means.

2. In an extinguishing device as in claim 1, said tank having an upwardly opening vent port adjacent the inner end thereof.

3. In an extinguishing device as in claim 1, said attaching member comprising a suction cup.

4. In an extinguishing device as in claim 1, said connecting means including an elongated socket having a cross sectional size and shape adapted to slidably receive said inner end of the tank.

5. In an extinguishing device as in claim 4, said resilient part comprising a neck extending between said attaching member and the adjacent inner end of said socket, said neck being formed of flexible material and defining an elongated chamber, and a spring contained in said neck chamber and cooperating with the neck for normally supporting the tank with its axis in a horizontal plane and permitting the tank and socket to be rocked relative to the attaching member.

6. In an extinguishing device as in claim 5, said inner end of the tank constituting the filling end thereof, .and

a removable stopper for closing and sealing said inner tank end.

No references cited. 

